From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
这里是VOA慢速英语健康生活报道。
Small talk. Chitchat. These are the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work.
寒暄、闲谈。这些是聚会中、购物排队时、家庭活动或工作中常见的简短对话。
Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well.
有时候我们会与只有一面之交的人闲聊。
Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers.
我们还免不了与陌生人闲谈。
Many people find these small conversations about random topics difficult.
很多人觉得这种随机话题的闲聊很难。
Some people say they hate it. Others say small talk is a waste of time.
有些人表示他们反感这种闲聊，还有人说闲聊就是浪费时间。
They may even call it idle chitchat or idle chatter, meaning it doesn't do anything. They consider small talk not important.
他们甚至认为闲谈就是空谈，这种交流毫无营养。他们认为闲聊并不重要。
However, small talk is important.
殊不知，闲聊非常重要。
These exchanges can open doors that may lead to larger, more meaningful conversations.
这种交谈能帮我们开启更广泛、更有意义的对话的大门。
When you first meet someone or talk to someone you don't know well, it would be awkward to begin a conversation about a really deep topic such as war, politics or the meaning of life.
当你与初次见面或不太了解的人谈论战争、政治或人生意义等深入性话题会让气氛尴尬。
Small talk also gives you the chance to decide if you want to get know that person better – or not.
闲聊也能让你决定是否要深入了解对方。
Let's say you make small talk with someone at a party. But they only want to talk about cats.
假设你在聚会时与人闲聊，但是对方只想谈论猫。
You may not want to build a friendship with them unless you really, really love cats.
除非你也是爱猫人士，不然你可能不想与他们建立友谊。
Chitchat can also increase your feeling of understanding, or empathy, toward people you know but not well.
闲聊还能加深你对不熟悉之人的了解或共鸣。
Chatting with a colleague about their child may help you to understand more of their life outside the office. This could help build healthy work relationships.
跟同事聊聊他们的小孩可帮助你了解他们工作以外的生活。这能帮你建立良好的工作关系。
Small talk could even help our larger communities -- our relationships with neighbors and colleagues.
闲聊甚至能提升与邻居和同事的关系。
Exchanging a recipe with a neighbor in your apartment building may make her noises upstairs easier to live with.
与邻居交换食谱能够让你更容易适应楼上的噪音。
And small talk may make us happier!
闲聊还能让人更加快乐!
In 2011, most commuters in the city of Chicago said they would enjoy "quiet cars" where they sat alone and did not talk to anybody.
2011年，芝加哥大多数通勤者表示，独自乘车时更喜欢安静的车厢，不喜与人交流。
Researchers at the University of Chicago then asked some participants in a study to talk to people while commuting to work on a train.
而芝加哥大学的研究人员要求参与某研究的志愿者乘地铁上下班时与人攀谈。
They found that those who made small talk with strangers were happier than those who sat alone.
他们发现，与陌生人闲聊的人比独自乘车的人更快乐！
In 2013, researchers from the University of Essex in Britain asked some people to make small talk in a similar study.
2013年，在英国埃塞克斯大学发起的某项类似研究中，研究人员要求志愿者与人闲聊。
They found people who talked briefly with a cashier in a coffee shop felt happier than those who simply went in, ordered and left.
他们发现，在咖啡店与收银员闲聊的人比直接进店、点餐和离开的人感觉更快乐。
However, some people are not good at small talk. Making small talk doesn't have to be either awkward or boring.
然而，有些人不擅长闲聊。闲聊不一定都是尴尬或无聊的。
Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.
分享一些提高闲聊能力的贴士。
1.Have some conversation starters ready.
1. 提前准备好开场白。
If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that.
假如你看过一部很好的电影或读过一本不错的书，你可以作为谈资。
You can talk about something that you recently learned.
你还可以聊聊最近的收获。
When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it's easy to start a conversation.
与别人分享相似的经历比较容易打开话匣子。
You simply notice and comment on what's going on around you.
你只需留意并评价一下周遭发生的事情。
For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.
例如，聚会上的音乐十分合你胃口或让你忆起一些往事，你不妨谈论一下。
2. Ask open-ended questions.
2. 询问开放式的问题。
These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer.
这类问题需要更多地思考，而无法用一两字结束。
If you ask questions that need more details to answer, the conversation will go on longer.
如果你的问题需要详细的回答，那么对话的时间会久一些。
For example, if you are at a summer pool party, don't ask a person if they like summer.
例如，你身处夏季泳池聚会，不要问对方是否喜欢夏天。
Instead, ask them what they like or dislike about summer.
相反，你应该询问对于夏天有何感受。
So, instead of getting a one-word answer, you might have the chance to share in a memory.
如此就可避免简单的回复，你就有机会分享他人的回忆。
3. Become a student.
3. 不耻下问。
Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them!
人非圣贤。当对方回答你的开放式问题时，他们可能会谈到一些你完全陌生的东西。所以，大胆说出来吧！
This lets the other person become the teacher.
这会让对方成为授业恩师。
They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something. It's a win-win situation.
他们乐意分享知识，而你也能学到新事物。这是一种双赢局面。
4. Don't ask, "So, what do you do?"
4. 不要问“你做什么工作？”
Some people do not like their jobs. Or maybe they don't want to talk about it.
有些人不喜欢自己的工作。或者他们不愿谈及自己的工作。
So, instead of asking, "What do you do for a living?" ask something like, "So, what have you been doing these days?" or "So, what have you been up to?"
所以用“近来可好？”或是“最近忙什么呢？”来代替“你做什么工作？”的问题。
One general question can lead to an opportunity to share something you have in common.
以普通问题做引能让你有机会与人分享共同点。
So, ask questions. Ask people about their families, their passions, their ambitions or even their fears.
所以，开始提问吧。聊聊他们的家庭、感情、理想甚至恐惧。
However, balance these questions with comments about yourself.
不过，你需要发表自我看法来平衡这些问题。
Asking too many questions may make people feel they are in an interview rather than in a conversation.
问题太多会让对方觉得是在接受采访而不是攀谈。
Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.
万事皆如此，闲聊也需要多加练习。
If you make small talk in your native language, you might become happier.
如果你用母语闲聊，你可能会更快乐。
If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.
如果你用英语闲聊，那么你绝对能提高口语和听力能力。
And that's the Health & Lifestyle report.
以上为健康生活报道的全部内容。
I'm Anna Matteo.
安娜·马特奥为您播报。
【词汇解析】
1.win-win situation 双赢局面
You know, for me this is a win-win situation.
你知道，对我来说，这是个双赢的局面。
2.have in common 有...共同点
I think you may find that's another thing we have in common.
我想你可能发现了我们又一个共同点。
3.lead to 导致
A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.
不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
4.Practice makes perfect 熟能生巧
If you want to improve your study and work, you should remember that practice makes perfect.
如果你想提高你的学习和效果，记住：熟能生巧。
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
这里是VOA慢速英语健康生活报道。
Small talk. Chitchat. These are the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work.
寒暄、闲谈。这些是聚会中、购物排队时、家庭活动或工作中常见的简短对话。
Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well.
有时候我们会与只有一面之交的人闲聊。
Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers.
我们还免不了与陌生人闲谈。
Many people find these small conversations about random topics difficult.
很多人觉得这种随机话题的闲聊很难。
Some people say they hate it. Others say small talk is a waste of time.
有些人表示他们反感这种闲聊，还有人说闲聊就是浪费时间。
They may even call it idle chitchat or idle chatter, meaning it doesn't do anything. They consider small talk not important.
他们甚至认为闲谈就是空谈，这种交流毫无营养。他们认为闲聊并不重要。
However, small talk is important.
殊不知，闲聊非常重要。
These exchanges can open doors that may lead to larger, more meaningful conversations.
这种交谈能帮我们开启更广泛、更有意义的对话的大门。
When you first meet someone or talk to someone you don't know well, it would be awkward to begin a conversation about a really deep topic such as war, politics or the meaning of life.
当你与初次见面或不太了解的人谈论战争、政治或人生意义等深入性话题会让气氛尴尬。
Small talk also gives you the chance to decide if you want to get know that person better – or not.
闲聊也能让你决定是否要深入了解对方。
Let's say you make small talk with someone at a party. But they only want to talk about cats.
假设你在聚会时与人闲聊，但是对方只想谈论猫。
You may not want to build a friendship with them unless you really, really love cats.
除非你也是爱猫人士，不然你可能不想与他们建立友谊。
Chitchat can also increase your feeling of understanding, or empathy, toward people you know but not well.
闲聊还能加深你对不熟悉之人的了解或共鸣。
Chatting with a colleague about their child may help you to understand more of their life outside the office. This could help build healthy work relationships.
跟同事聊聊他们的小孩可帮助你了解他们工作以外的生活。这能帮你建立良好的工作关系。
Small talk could even help our larger communities -- our relationships with neighbors and colleagues.
闲聊甚至能提升与邻居和同事的关系。
Exchanging a recipe with a neighbor in your apartment building may make her noises upstairs easier to live with.
与邻居交换食谱能够让你更容易适应楼上的噪音。
And small talk may make us happier!
闲聊还能让人更加快乐!
In 2011, most commuters in the city of Chicago said they would enjoy "quiet cars" where they sat alone and did not talk to anybody.
2011年，芝加哥大多数通勤者表示，独自乘车时更喜欢安静的车厢，不喜与人交流。
Researchers at the University of Chicago then asked some participants in a study to talk to people while commuting to work on a train.
而芝加哥大学的研究人员要求参与某研究的志愿者乘地铁上下班时与人攀谈。
They found that those who made small talk with strangers were happier than those who sat alone.
他们发现，与陌生人闲聊的人比独自乘车的人更快乐！
In 2013, researchers from the University of Essex in Britain asked some people to make small talk in a similar study.
2013年，在英国埃塞克斯大学发起的某项类似研究中，研究人员要求志愿者与人闲聊。
They found people who talked briefly with a cashier in a coffee shop felt happier than those who simply went in, ordered and left.
他们发现，在咖啡店与收银员闲聊的人比直接进店、点餐和离开的人感觉更快乐。
However, some people are not good at small talk. Making small talk doesn't have to be either awkward or boring.
然而，有些人不擅长闲聊。闲聊不一定都是尴尬或无聊的。
Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.
分享一些提高闲聊能力的贴士。
1.Have some conversation starters ready.
1. 提前准备好开场白。
If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that.
假如你看过一部很好的电影或读过一本不错的书，你可以作为谈资。
You can talk about something that you recently learned.
你还可以聊聊最近的收获。
When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it's easy to start a conversation.
与别人分享相似的经历比较容易打开话匣子。
You simply notice and comment on what's going on around you.
你只需留意并评价一下周遭发生的事情。
For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.
例如，聚会上的音乐十分合你胃口或让你忆起一些往事，你不妨谈论一下。
2. Ask open-ended questions.
2. 询问开放式的问题。
These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer.
这类问题需要更多地思考，而无法用一两字结束。
If you ask questions that need more details to answer, the conversation will go on longer.
如果你的问题需要详细的回答，那么对话的时间会久一些。
For example, if you are at a summer pool party, don't ask a person if they like summer.
例如，你身处夏季泳池聚会，不要问对方是否喜欢夏天。
Instead, ask them what they like or dislike about summer.
相反，你应该询问对于夏天有何感受。
So, instead of getting a one-word answer, you might have the chance to share in a memory.
如此就可避免简单的回复，你就有机会分享他人的回忆。
3. Become a student.
3. 不耻下问。
Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them!
人非圣贤。当对方回答你的开放式问题时，他们可能会谈到一些你完全陌生的东西。所以，大胆说出来吧！
This lets the other person become the teacher.
这会让对方成为授业恩师。
They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something. It's a win-win situation.
他们乐意分享知识，而你也能学到新事物。这是一种双赢局面。
4. Don't ask, "So, what do you do?"
4. 不要问“你做什么工作？”
Some people do not like their jobs. Or maybe they don't want to talk about it.
有些人不喜欢自己的工作。或者他们不愿谈及自己的工作。
So, instead of asking, "What do you do for a living?" ask something like, "So, what have you been doing these days?" or "So, what have you been up to?"
所以用“近来可好？”或是“最近忙什么呢？”来代替“你做什么工作？”的问题。
One general question can lead to an opportunity to share something you have in common.
以普通问题做引能让你有机会与人分享共同点。
So, ask questions. Ask people about their families, their passions, their ambitions or even their fears.
所以，开始提问吧。聊聊他们的家庭、感情、理想甚至恐惧。
However, balance these questions with comments about yourself.
不过，你需要发表自我看法来平衡这些问题。
Asking too many questions may make people feel they are in an interview rather than in a conversation.
问题太多会让对方觉得是在接受采访而不是攀谈。
Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.
万事皆如此，闲聊也需要多加练习。
If you make small talk in your native language, you might become happier.
如果你用母语闲聊，你可能会更快乐。
If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.
如果你用英语闲聊，那么你绝对能提高口语和听力能力。
And that's the Health & Lifestyle report.
以上为健康生活报道的全部内容。
I'm Anna Matteo.
安娜·马特奥为您播报。
免责声明：以上内容源自网络，版权归原作者所有，如有侵犯您的原创版权请告知，我们将尽快删除相关内容。
